Conceptually, this album is very ambitious. It's like Trap Muzik combined with King. Over the course of 18 tracks, the LP is broken into three acts. As a result of this though, the project becomes a bit cluttered as a whole. Nevertheless, there are still some great songs. "Big Shit Poppin'", with the guitar riff from the "Top Gun Anthem," has some of Mannie Fresh's best board work since Cash Money's reign in the late 90s and Busta Rhymes steals the show as usual with his guest work on "Hurt." The bluesy vibe of "Watch What You Say" gives Jay-Z space to deliver a solid verse and "Respect My Hustle" finds T.I. and his alter-ego T.I.P. challenging each other. T.I.'s Paper Trail, released a year later, is a way better album. But T.I. Vs. T.I.P. shows a young person dealing with his past in the streets, coming to terms with fame and realizing who he is now all at once. Even if it isn't done really well, the fact that T.I. even attempts to do so still counts for something.
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